Monday 5 September 2011

Read: Mark 1:35-45

In Search of Silence

I have calmed and quieted my soul.  Psalm 131:2

 

“My next record should  be 45 minutes of silence,” said the singer Meg Hutchinson, “because that’s what we’re missing most in society.”

 

Silence is indeed hard to find.  Cities are notoriously noisy due to the high concentration of traffic and people.  There seems to be no escape from loud music, loud machines, and loud voices.  But the kind of noise that endangers our spiritual well-being is not the noise we can’t escape but the noise we invite into our lives.  Some of use noise as a way of shutting out loneliness: voices of TV and radio personalities give us the illusion of companionship.  Some of us use it as way of shutting out our own thoughts: other voices and opinions keep us from having to think for ourselves.  Some of us use noise as a way of shutting out the voice of God: constant chatter, even when we’re talking about God, keeps us from hearing what God has to say.

 

But Jesus, even during His busiest times, make a point of seeking out places of solitude where He could carry on a conversation with God (Mark 1:35).  Even if we can’t find a place that is perfectly quiet, we need to find a place to quiet our souls.  (Psalm 131:2), a place where God has our full attention.  Julie Ackerman Link

 

There is a quiet resting place,

Where peace and joy are found:

Where burdens may be laid aside

And faith and love abound.  Moore

 

Don’t let the noise of the world keep you from hearing the voice of the Lord.

 

Prayer:

 

V Prayer for the Horn of Africa - a massive spiritual battle is being waged against the lives of people in the Horn.  The lack of government response to this disaster, the lack of access to those most in need, the manipulation of food prices and severe drought has created famine on an incredible scale. We need to pray and act.

V Together we can raise the awareness and increase the volume of cries out to God for these people. The situation is deadly for millions. It is the worst drought since the 1950's.

 

V Please pray for governments to be courageous and to challenge the political games that are being played at the cost of so many lives already.

 

V Please pray for the Humanitarian Emergency workers whose leadership is critical in the minimising of the loss of life.